UPDATE: 5.10pm

After today's four hour hearing Gwent Police licensing officer Anne Hier said: "This is not the first time that Vanilla Bar in Blackwood has been the subject of a Licensing Review Hearing.

"In September 2013, after several months of trying to work with the management team, Gwent Police took the venue to a hearing to ensure that Vanilla Bar would in future be run within the boundaries of the Licensing Act 2003.

“At the time, the Licensing Committee removed the then Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) and imposed 14 conditions, including the installation of eight CCTV cameras, that door staff were to wear high visibility clothing and use a clicker system to manage capacity levels, that the rear door should have an audible alarm system fitted and no drinks to be taken outside of the premises.

"This was to ensure that the licensing objective of crime and disorder could be addressed.

“In spring 2015, intelligence that disorder, underage alcohol sales and drug use was taking place at Vanilla Bar which gave Gwent Police the evidence for a warrant. 

“Today’s result is a culmination of months of hard work from Gwent Police and its partners.

"We work with licensed premises to ensure that they offer a safe environment for their customers, uphold their licensing conditions and operate within the law.

"This was clearly not the case with Vanilla Bar and as a result Caerphilly County Borough Council Licensing Committee has taken on board the severity of the evidence shown and today revoked its licence."

UPDATE: 4.30pm

Gwent Police have released a video of the Vanilla Bar nightclub being searched on July 17.

UPDATE: 3.26pm

The committee heard that all four licensing objectives, including the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance and the protection of children, had been 'seriously undermined' and that the decision had been taken after careful consideration of concerns raised by several different bodies, including Gwent Police, the fire service and environmental health.

Blackwood cllr Nigel Dix said following the verdict: 'The verdict is fantastic for the people of Blackwood and ensures the protection of our youngsters from the illegal sale of alcohol and banned substances of drugs.'

He added that he was 'absolutely relieved' by the verdict as it showed license holders in the area that action will be taken if they don't run safe premises. UPDATE:

THE future of a nightclub in Blackwood is currently being determined after committee hears that under 18s were allowed on site to drink and cocaine and steroids found on premises.

The meeting currently being held before Caerphilly Council's licensing and gambling committee is reviewing the license given to The Vanilla Bar, High Street.

The premises licence holder and designated premises supervisor is Brett Podmore.

The review follows the issue of a closure order under the anti social behaviour, crime and policing act 2014. This application for this was submitted by Andrew O'Keefe on behalf of the chief constable of Gwent police.

Following this a closure order was made by magistrates court on July 20. This was following a multi agency inspection on July 17. This found several patrons were found to be under age, drugs were seized and safety issues discovered.

It will remain closed for three months from this date.

Gwent Police's civilian policing officer Anne Hier made representation at the meeting.

She highlighted that the inspection of the premises at 11.30pm on July 17, came after public complaints and evidence collected by officers who reviewed cctv footage of the outside of the premises.

There were also incidents of concern including a case that was deemed as wounding with intent, where a 16 year old girl suffered two black eyes, a broken nose, back and neck pain, bleeding from her ears and suspected cracked ribs.

She told officers that this happened at the Vanilla Bar.

A 16 year old boy caused criminal damage to a vehicle outside the bar. He was found to be intoxicated and had been drinking at the bar.

A 15 year old was found with methodrone after leaving the bar, when he was stopped and searched.

The officer went on to say that they had been told that the door staff were dealing cocaine and Mcat and were allowing anyone in to the venue without asking for ID.

Speaking at the meeting, Gwent Police Inspector Carl Williams explained that since May 2015, officers have been reviewing cctv footage.

He said on June 26, 6 underage males were searched at the rear of the premises due to their disorderly behaviour, all ages between 16- 17 years of age. They had empty bags with remnants of white powder. Two of the men admitted drinking at the bar and taking drugs.

The same evening a 15 year old was arrested for being in possession of mephedrone. He was seen leaving the premises and smelt of alcohol.

The committee heard how from the search on July 17, 17 bags of white powder was located secreted on the floor after police entry, one solid block of white powder was found in the till and drugs were found located in two cars belonging to door staff.

These were all later to be found to be cocaine. 
Out of the 130people inside the building at the time, 30 were under the age of 18, and the youngest was 15 years old.

The committee heard how from the search on July 17, 17 bags of white powder was located secreted on the floor after police entry, one solid block of white powder was found in the till and drugs were found located in two cars belonging to door staff. These were all later to be found to be cocaine.

Out of the 130people inside the building at the time, 30 were under the age of 18, and the youngest was 15 years old.

PC Adam Lang highlighted that while reviewing CCTV footage on July 17, he counted 135 people leaving the premises.  But the premises has a maximum capacity of 110, including staff.

Plus there were a further 25 people outside upon the arrival of the police.

He said: "they could have re entered at any time therefore increasing those numbers to around 163."

He also pointed out that a fire exit has been chained shut.
The committee heard that when police asked for the key to undo the lock, it could not be found by staff.

Letters from local residents were also taken into consideration. Mr Michael Senior objected to the renewal of the license due to the noise from the venue is "not compatible" with a residential area.

Mr and Mrs K Llewellyn explained how they endured "horrendously loud music, screaming and fighting" when the bar is open.

They added that despite the licence granting opening until 2am, it can take a further two hours of people to leave and often in "noisy" cars.

In his correspondence William and Gail Rogers said that patrons of the club use their driveways as toilets and sit on the church wall with their drinks, which is noisy.

Mr Podmore told officers after the search that he was unaware of the breaches and the man who was head of doorstaff was Nathan Jones.